Virginity for the Kingdom of Heaven
Homily
Sunday, Nov. 10, 2007, 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, C
Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish, Sterling Heights

            “Whose wife will she be?”[1] Jesus’ enemies hat set a trap, but then perhaps we can honestly wonder about the answer to that question, even though we would never try to trap Jesus in his words. Marriage is the most exalted form of love in this life. Even though it is continually riddled with difficulties and the demons in hell put endless pitfalls before spouses, who through their marriages strive to grow in holiness.

            But Jesus teaches us here something of great importance, and it is this: marriage ends. For the “sons of this age marry and remarry.” In heaven “they neither marry nor are given in marriage.” He then poses the universal resurrection as the cause of this surprising revelation; for now we die, and for man to be in the world which God created for man, man must marry. God indeed does not need marriage to create a person. He created man from the earth, and he created Eve from Adam alone. The Eternal Word, Jesus the Lord, was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary. St. John of Damascus wrote, around the year 742, that for this reason, before the fall of Adam and Eve, God did not need their marriage to fill the world,[2] yet with his foreknowledge, knew they would sin.

            So in heaven, all live, or will live, like virgins. “Virginity is the habitual state of the angels.”[3] And resurrected, none of us will enter into marriage. Marriage ends in this life, and is a sign and a promise of something perfect, better to come, in heaven. Those who live consecrated celibacy, and are faithful to it, begin to live on earth as they will in heaven.

            This indeed is one of three reasons why religious are celibate.  The first is as a special sacrifice and reservation of oneself for love of God. The second is to be very available for the service of the Church. The third is because it is an “eschatological sign,” that is, a sign of how things will be during and after the end times. Priests add to these three reasons two more: the fact that Jesus the High Priest was celibate, the Lamb who took the Church as his mystical bride, and the fact that it is the tradition of the Apostles that the clergy remain celibate.

            So today’s reading from the Gospel of Luke teaches us about that reason which I stated, that celibacy, virginity for the Kingdom of God, is an “eschatological sign.”

            If in heaven we will all live as celibates, what conclusions can we draw for our spiritual lives?

            First, that young people do well in entering religious life and becoming priests, if for this reason alone. In religious life and the priesthood, one is called to taste on earth the gifts of heaven, and to “imitate the angels.”[4] And again, older people do well in encouraging young people to pursue this state of life. Yet consecrated virginity is not a command, only a counsel, a counsel given by Christ[5] and by St. Paul,[6] and even in many places of the Old Testament.[7]

            Second, for those who are married, this teaching reminds you that you do not exist for your spouse, and your spouse doesn’t exist for you, but that you both exist for God. Your marriage is a means, not an end, to attain the love of God above all things and the love of neighbor as yourselves. So be patient with one another, never tire of showing kindness to one another, speak with goodness to and about one another, and stop placing self-serving demands upon one another. Love, and love like Jesus the Lord.

            To praise virginity is not to decry marriage. God has blessed marriage by his presence in Cana, his own mystical union with the Church, and in the Letter to the Hebrews Paul commands that “marriage be honorable and the bed undefiled.”[8] The love of the spouses and the rearing of Children are willed by God. All things God created are good. When he created man, male and female, he made them very good. When he re-created man by grace, even when marriage was very good, virginity was better, but also a gift for the fewer.

            Let us reflect on these teachings, and train ourselves to live with great chastity and purity, and help our family and friends to do the same. Today there are great concerns regarding what’s on the internet, in music both in it’s lyrics and in its sensual and aggressive emotional quality, worry about the immodesty of the television and the dress of the youth, magazines of sin and self indulgence of every type, and more and worse perils besides. Let us live as those preparing for the resurrection by living, each according to his state in life, chastity. “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.”[9]